MLB Rumors

Indians prospect Tony Wolters is transitioning to catcher and will continue that development with Class A Carolina this season, MLB.com reports. Wolters had been considered a middle infielder.

"It's going really well," the 20-year-old Wolters said. "I'm learning something new every day. It's fun. I like it a lot. You're looking at things from a different perspective, from a different standpoint on the field. I feel like it's making my overall game better."

Diamondbacks outfielder Jason Kubel was out fo the lineup yet again Saturday vs. Miami, as he continues to be bothered by a quadriceps injury. He has appeared in just two of the last four games as a pinch-hitter. 

White Sox starter John Danks, who is making a rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte Saturday night, is all lined up to return to the Chicago rotation Friday against Miami, the Chicago Tribune reports. 

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman ended a 14-game homerless streak Friday against the Padres with his second home run of the season.

Zimmerman hit a solo home run to right field in the sixth inning of a 6-5, 10-inning win. He went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. He has hit safely in seven games in a row.

Zimmerman is hitting .283, with 19 RBI in 28 games. He has eight extra-base hits overall. 

The Angels designated outfielder Scott Cousins for assignment Saturday.

Cousins was recently sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake after going hitless in five plate appearances for the Angels.

The Angels claimed third baseman Chris Nelson off waivers from the Yankees and designated Scott Cousins for assignment in the corresponding move.

Nelson went 8 for 36 (.222) with two doubles in his stint with the Yankees.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto snapped a string of 18 games in a row without homering Friday, as he took Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo deep for a solo shot in the eighth inning of a 5-3 loss.

Votto went 2 for 4 in the game, raising his batting average to .329. He is batting .400 with a 1.056 on-base plus slugging percentage in the month of May, however he now has just one home run and seven RBI in the past 14 games.  

Reds outfielder Jay Bruce continued to turn his season around Friday against the Phillies, as he homered for the third time in seven games.

Bruce went 2 for 4 in the game, with a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a 5-3 loss. Bruce snapped a streak of five games in a row with one strikeout, while also extending his hitting streak to eight games.

He is batting .394 with three home runs, 10 RBI and five runs scored during his streak, raising his batting average for the year from .246 to .275. 

Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta, who was recalled Saturday and will pitch in long relief for Baltimore, said he's learned to take the emotions out of his pitching, the Baltimore Sun reports.

"Absolutely, and sometimes that’s what it takes," Arrieta said. "What I really did is I started to take the emotions out of it."

Arrieta realizes he'll be filling a need in the bullpen. "I just want to be part of helping the team win," he said.

There is a small chance that Arrieta could be asked to start Monday or Tuesday against the Yankees.

Athletics outfielder Josh Reddick said Saturday that he's been taking dry swings with a bat, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Reddick said his wrist has had no discomfort, though he's not actually hitting anything yet. He's hopeful to avoid surgery.

"No issues," he said. "It's wait-and-see right now. We don't have a set plan."